Taximeter



Nov. 22, 1927..

1,650,121 J. GLUCK ET AL TAXIMETER Filed Nov. 12, 1925 f 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Zlmnmtold Patented Nov. 22, 1927.

UNITED} STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JULIUS GLUCK Ann RUDOLF It. KARICH, or NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS TO THE YELLOW TAXI CORPORATION,

OF YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TAXIMETER.

Application filed. November 12, 1925. Serial No. 68,686.

This invention relates to taximeters,'and more particularly to meansfor causing the meter to givethe legal hourlywaiting time rate-value to the passenger while the cab is waiting on the initial charge.

The law in some citie specify a fixed charge for waiting time by the hour, or fractions thereof, on the basis of a maximum charge of $1.50 per hour, for example. However, due to the fact that there is a differ-em tial relation between the charge for waiting time on the initial charge period and subsequent waiting time, the mechanism being normally set to operate at a fasterspeed on subsequent waiting time. it is necessary to provide means for slowing down the opera' tion of the clock-driven instrumentalities on the initial charge period of the meter.

Accordingly, the present invention has primarily in view a novel mechanism for slowing down. the operation of the clock driven instrumentalities on the initial charge period. In that connection the present construction is intende'dto be an improvement upon a construction which has been in public use for some years and consists of an actuating device or means for a fare counter, and means actuated by the clock of the meter for moving said actuating device or means at different speeds during the different periods of service.

Therefore, the present invention relates particularly to the novel clock-driven instrumentalities employed for connecting the clock with the actuating device for the fare drums in such a way that the actuating instrumentalities will operate slower during the waiting time period of the initial charge than they will during subsequent periods. Vith theabove and other objects in view which willmore readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein after more fully described, illustrated and claimed. y

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

' Figure 1 is aview of the present novel mechanism with the parts shown in the position occupied when the flag'is up and the cab is for hire.

Fig. 2 shows the position of the parts shown in Fig. 1 when the flag is moved 90 to set the meter in operation.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation of the actuating unit operated by either the wheel of the vehicle or the clock.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the pivoted lug that operates in connection with the restrainingcollar.

Similarreference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings. I

The present construction includes in its general organization a controlling cam A operated by the flag F for controlling the operation of the star wheel unit B of the fare drum actuating means either by the clock mechanism C or the wheel driven instrumen talities' designated generally as D. That is to 'say,the star wheel unit B may be operated by either the clock C or the wheel driven shaft D and its connections, movement from either source being controlled by the cam A on the flag shaft S as will presently more fully appear in detail.

Referring first to the star wheel unit B it will be observed that the same includes a main shaft 1 journaled in the front plate 2 and the mechanism supporting frame 3 and having thereon the ratchet toothed gear 4:, the clock driven gear '5, which together with the ratchet wheel 6 are loosely mounted on the main shaft but may be connected with the star wheel unit by the pawl 7.

The said star wheel unit also includes the star wheel 8 connected by the hub 9 with a restraining collar 10 having a notch 11 in its periphery, and the hub of the star wheel unit is keyed to the shaft 1 to rotate therewith. One side of the star wheel carries a pawl 12 adapted to engage with the ratchet 13 on the drive gear 14: both of which are loose on the shaft 1 but may be connected with the star wheel unit through the pawl 12 to move the star wheel unit when the wheel operated instrumentalities D are connected with the ac tuating unit. The portion of the main shaft 1 which projects beyond the mechanism supporting frame 3 is provided with a heart shaped resetting cam 15 for effecting the resetting of the unit to zero after the flag completes each cycle. l

From the foregoing it will be understood that the ratchet and pawl 6-7 and the pawl and ratchet 12-13 are reversely arranged so that when either the clock or the vehicle is operating the star wheel unit, the other will simply have an idle movement.

The manner in which the drive gear 14 is operated is unimportant so far as the present improvements are concerned, but by way of explanation it may be pointed out that the wheel driven instrumentalities D include a Worm D positioned back of the frame 3 which in turn operates a work gear D mounted. on the shaft 16 and the latter shaft arries a gear 17 which meshes with an idler gear 18 carried by the plate 3. This gear is engaged at all times with the idler pinion 18 of a pair of intermeshing pinions 18 and 18 carried by a clutch lever 19 pivoted to the frame 3 as indicated at 20. Thesaid lever 19 is provided with a tensioning spring 21 which holds the nose 22 thereof toward the controlling cam A. hen the flag is in its vertical position as shown in Fig.- 1 the gear 18 is out of mesh with the drive gear 14 of the star wheel unit so that although the idler wheel 18 is continuously driven the movement of the idler 18 will not be imparted to the drive gear 1 1 until the clutch lever 19 isshifted so :as to throw the pinion 18 intoengagemcnt with the gear 14. lVhen the flag is shifted to the 90 position. as shown in Fig. 2, the pinion 18 meshes with the drive gear 14. These features are being claimed in a companion case and reference is only made to them here for the purpose of illustrating that the star wheel. unitis hoth wheel-driven and clock-driven as .previously indicated.

The clock mechanism designated generally as 'C may be otithe conventional type used on taximeters and is preferably mounted at the back of the frame 3. A shaft- 23 driven by the clock projects through the meter frame and carries therewith the clock pinion 24 and the ratchet cam 25.

When the cab is first hired and the flag is pulled down, the fare exhibited on the face of the meter is known as the initial fare or initial charge, and if the vehicle travels. the wheel driven instrumentalities come immediately into operation to move the actuating unit- B.

However, if the cab is hired and the flag pulled down but- .the passenger keeps the cab waiting. the clock mechanism will drive the actuating unit including the star wheel 8; but. since the direct g ar ratio between the clock drive and the actuating unit is such that the actuating unit will be driven at a speed faster than required to charge the pas senger more than the established rate per hour, (say $1.50 per hour) it is necessary to utilize some means for slowing up the op eration of the actuating unit during the initial period of waiting time.

To the above end the present invention utilizes the notched restraining collar 10 of the star wheel unit and other instrumentalities, now about to be described. for preventing direct connection between the clock driven gear 24 and the clock gear 5 of the actuating unit through the medium of the idler 26 which is the means for establishing direct drive between the clock pinion 24. and the gear '5 of :the unit B.

The clock idler 26 is pivotally mounted as at 27 on the waiting time lever 28 which is pivoted to the frame at 29 and tensionod by the spring 30 connected at its lower end while its upper end 31 is provided with an arm 32 whose end 33 lies in relatively close proximity to the periphery of the (arm A. lVhen the flag is up as shown in Fig. 1. the lever 28 assumes the position shown. It also holds that position after the .flag is moved 90 as shown in Fig. 2 until the initial charge period is up.

However, as soon as the initial charge period is up the nose 33 of the later will drop into the notch 33;as will be seen to be possible from the position of parts shown in Fig. 2, (flag down). When the nose 33 moves into the notch 33" the waiting time lever will throw clock idler 26 into mesh with the clock gear 5 and thus drive the 'actua-ting unit B direct from the clock, providing of course the actuating unit is not being driven at a greater speed by :the wheel driven instrumentalities D.

The means for restraining the clock idler 26 during the initial waiting time period, and the. means for operating the actuating unit during such period-at a reduced speed will now be referred to more in detail.

The main drop lever for actuating the fare drum E which in turn. actuates fare drum E and E is designated as 35. This lever is horizontally disposed and pivoted .at 36 and has t'ast therewith the 'anguhrrly disposed upwardlyextending arm 37 whose nose 38 is moved by "the controlling cam A. When the flag is up the nose 38 is pressed backwardly by the cam portion 39 of the cam. thereby holding the main part of the lever 35 elevated. On the other hand when the flag is down the nose 38clro ps into the recess 38" thereby permitting the lever to be pulled downwardly by the spring 39.

The intermediate part of the lever is pro vided with a star wheel engaging tooth 40 adapted to beengaged by the star wheel 8 and is also provided wit-h a slot 4.1 for receiving the arm 42 which projects through the opening 13 in the frame 3 and is a part oi the drum actuating lever 44 pivotally supported as at 45 and having the spring pressed pawl 46 at its upper end tor operating the ratchet 48 on the drum E. lVit h this ar rangement it will be apparent that as the tooth 40 is raised and lowered by the teeth of the star wheel 8 engaging the same, the lever will-be given an up and down reciprocating motion which will-be transmitted through the arm 42 to the lever L4 to effect the operation of .the drum E through the pawl 46.

Adjacent the tooth 40 the body of the drop lever 35 is also provided with a pivoted spring tensioncd lug 49. As soon as the cam-A releases 38 the spring 39 pulls the lever 35 down until the lug 49 rests on the collar 10. The lug 49 will remain on the periphery of collar 10 until the initial charge registered on the meter is used up either by the travel of the vehicle or the operation of the clock. lVhen it is used up the notch 11 registers therewith and the lug then drops througlrthe notch and permits the lever 35 to attain its full reciprocating stroke for the purpose of actuating the initial fare drum E.

Also, as soon as the lug drops through the notch, the lever 35 is released for operation by the star wheel 8 against the tension of the spring 39.

However, to insure the proper value in waiting time on the initial charge, and to operate the star wheel at reduced speed during that period, the clock idler lever 28 is held back by the restraining lever 50 which is pivoted as at 51 to the meter frame and has its keeper portion 52 normally engaged with the pin 53 carried by the idler lever 28.

For the purpose of operating the clock driven gear 5 of the unit B while the clock idler 26 is held out of mesh therewith, (due to the engagement of the pin- 53 with the keeper head 52) used to operate the bell crank lever 54. This lever is pivoted as at 55 to the meter frame and has the nose 56 thereof formed to enage with the teeth of the ratchet cam 25. Aiso, said lever 54 is tensioned by the spring 57 and pivotally carries at the end of its upright arm the actuating pawl 58 for moving the clock gear 5. This pawl is tensioned by the spring 60 respectively connected with the lever 54: and with the arm 58 The eifect of thus tensioning the pawl 58 is to maintain the notched portion 61 thereof in engagement with the pin 62 carried by the lever 35 near the base of the tooth 40. When the pawl is heldin this position the operating nose 63 thereof is held sufiiciently high to avoid contact with the teeth of the ratchet gear t, the flag assuming of course being in the flag up position.

However, when the flag is moved to the 90 position and the lever 35 is partly released due to the nose 38 moving into the recess 38, the lower end of the lug 49 will move down on to the periphery of the collar 10 and lower the pin 62 sufliciently to also lower the nose 63 of the pawl 58 into position to engage the teeth of the ratchet gear 4; as clearly shown in Fig. 2. s

the cam ratchet wheel 25 is It will thus be apparent thatias the cam connected with the clockgear 5,- and the latter in turnis connected with the star wheel unit as previously described, it will'be apparent that the star wheel unit will be driven by the clock at a slower speed than it would be driven if it were driven by the idler 26. I

The operation ofthe ratchet 4 by the pawl 58 continues as long as the lug. 49 rides on the periphery of the collar 10. \Vhen the lug 49 drops through the notch 11 the lever I 35 will drop to the limit of its downward movement and strike the end 65 of the lever 50 and cause the same to lift as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. The lifting of the restraining lever 50 by the dropping of the lever 35 will causethe keeper head 52 to move out of the path of the pin 53 and let the lever 28 go forward and carry the clock idler gear 26 into mesh with the clock gear 5. As the restraining lever 50 is lifted to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 the otfset portion 50 thereof will engage the lower edge 58 of the pawl and lift the pawl so that the nose 63. clears the ratchet, as clearly shown in Fig.2. i

Thus, it will be apparent that the pawl 59 isautomatically thrown out of operation a. soon as thelug L9 enters the notch 11 in the collar 10, but previous to that time the star wheel 8 was driven through the medium of the lever 54 and pawl 58 which are actuated by the clockgear 25. i 1 r We claim:

1. A fare registering including a flag shaft, a fare counter and actuating means therefor including a star wheel unit, a clock, a reciprocating pawl and a gear both actuated by said clock, and means operated by said flag'shaft and starwheel unit for successively bringing said pawl and gear into operative engagement with the star wheel unit to move the same slow during the initial charge period and faster during a subsequent period of service.

2. In a fare registering device for-vehicles, a fare counter,a clock-driven pinion and a clock-driven cam-wheel, a star-wheel unit for actuating the fare counter and in cluding a clock-gear and a clock ratchet wheel, an initial waiting time lever, a gear carried by said lever, a reciprocating pawl, said gear and pawl being respectively operated by the clock-driven pinion and the clock-driven cam-wheel, manual means for bringing the pawl into engagement with the star-wheel unit, and means actuated by the star-wheel unit for bringing the gear into engagement therewith.

3. In a fare registering device for vehicles, a fare counter, actuating means for device for vehicles said fare counter, a clock, a reciprocatory pawl actuated by said clock, an idler gear actuated by said clock, means for restraining the operation of the actuating means by the idler gear while the reciprocatory :pawl is operating. said actuating means, :and means for simultaneously throwing the reciprocatory pawl (to an inoperative position and releasing the idler gear into operative relation to said actuating means.

4. In a fare registering device for vehicles, a fare counter, astar wheel unit, levers actuated by saidstar wheel unit for actuating the fare counters, a clockgmeans actuated by said clock and controlled unit for driving said unit slow on the initial charge period, said means including a waiting time lever, a clock idler carried by the waiting time lever and adapted :t'orengagement with the star wheel unit, a rocking lever operated by the clock, a reciprocating pawl actuated by said rocking lever, .means for controlling the position oisaid waiting time lever, and means for simultaneously withdrawing the reciprocating paw l from operative engagen'ient with the star wheel unit and releasing said waiting time lever to carry the clock idler gear into engagement withthe star wheel unit.

5. In a fare registeringclevi'ce for vehicles having a flag, a fare counter, an actuating device for said :fare counter, a clock, means for connecting said clock with sai'd'actuating device comprising a clock driven cam Wheel, a star wheel unit including a clock driven gear and a ratchet wheel, a rockable lever adapted to be engaged and operated :by said clock driven cam-wheel, a ratchet-wheel-engaging pawl carried by the rockable lever, and means for maintaining mesh with the "ratchet-wheel when the flag is up and permitting it to move into position to engage the ratchet-wheel when the "flag is down, and means for lifting said vpawl out of engagement with the ratchet wheel after a predetermined movement of the star wheel unit.

6. In a fareregistering device for vehicles, a fare counter, a star-wheel unit including a clock gear and a notched collar, a flag-controlled drop-lever operatively connected with the fare counter and adapted tohave a par-:

tial movement to ride on the periphery of the notched collar for a predetern' ined period and then drop through the notch, a pivoted by the star wheel said pawl out of waiting time lever, an idler gear on said waiting time lever for driving said gear, a clock, a rocking lever actuated by the clock, a reciprocating pawl for actuating said clock gear while the idler gear is out of mesh therewith, a restraining lever for holding the waiting time lever in position to keep the idler gear out of mesh with said clock gear, and means operated by the flag-controlled drop-lever to throw said pawl out of operative relation with the clock gear of the star wheel unitaand release the waiting time lever.

7. In a fare registeringdevice for vehicles,

a fare counter, a clock, a star-wheel unit ineluding a clock driven gear and a ratchetcarried thereby, a flag-controlled drop-lever operated by the star-wheel unit to actuate the fare counter, means for delaying the operation of the flag-controlled drop-lever during the initial charge period, comprising a notched collar associated with the starwheel and said drop-lever having a preliminary movement toward the notched collar whereby it will rest on the periphery thereof, a reciprocatory pawl lowered by the preliminary movement of the flag-controlled droplever to be in operative relation to the ratchet carried by said clock driven gear, means operated by the clock for reciprocating said pawl, and means operated by said 'flag controlled drop-lever for rendering the reciprocatory pawl inoperative after a predetermined movement of the star-wheel unit.

8. In a fare registering device for vehicles, a fare counter, a clock, a star-wheel unit including a clock gear and a ratchet wheel, levers controlled by the star-wheel unit for actuating thefare counter, a clock driven cam-wheel, a clock driven pinion, a pivoted waiting time lever having a clock idler thereon meshing with said clock pinion, means for holding said waiting time lever in a position whereby the idler pinion will be out of mesh with the clock gear of the starwheel unit, and means for operating said ratchet wheel comprising a reciprocating pawl, a rocking lever operated by the clock cam-wheel for operating said pawl, and means for simultaneously releasing the time lever and throwing the reciprocating pawl to an inoperative position.

In testimony whereof we hereunto affix our signatures.

JULIUS GLUCK. RUDOLF R. KARICH. 

